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Crayfish Tails & Bruno Paillard:

The Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru matches beautifully with shellfish, especially oysters. It can also accompany fish or an entire meal if there aren’t any particularly spicy or sweet dishes. In 2000, acclaimed French chef Joel Robuchon discovers the Bruno Paillard Champagnes. Here is what tasting Bruno Paillard inspires him: “This champagne, low in sugar content, well balanced, and with its subtle note of hazelnut, is the result of a demanding personality, an excellent connoisseur of terrior and of the best crus. I do believe that he and I have the same notions of hard work and perfection.” Thus, Joel Robuchon has worked for a decade on matching his dishes to the champagne of Bruno Paillard.

Crayfish tails with ice cream by Joel Robuchon

Serves 2

Ingrediants:

10 large crayfish
50g celery root
1 tsp chives, roughly chopped
3cl truffle vinaigrette
10g truffle, chopped
chervil
salt and pepper, freshly ground

For the broth:

• 1 large onion, 1 small fennel, ¼ celery stalks, all thinly sliced
• 2,5 l water
• 2g star anise
• 10g coriander seeds
• 10g black pepper, whole
• 1 bouquet garni
• 10 garlic cloves
• 2dl dry white wine
• 3dl red wine vinegar
• 100g sea salt

For the cream:

• ½ a fennel, ½ an onion, 2 celery stalks, all thinly sliced
• 50g butter
• 1dl of the sauce
• 400g double cream
• 2g fennel seeds

Method:

1. Place all the vegetables and spices for the broth in a large pot. Add the 2.5 l of water and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add 2 dl dry white wine an 3 dl red wine vinegar.

2. Wash the crayfish by rinsing them quickly under cold water. Plunge five of the crayfish in the boiling broth and allow to cook for three minutes. Remove them from the broth and set aside. Repeat with the remaining five crayfish. Allow to cool and peel the crayfish.

3. In a sauté pan, place 50g butter, ½ a fennel, ½ an onion, and the 2 celery stalks, all thinly sliced. Add a large pinch of salt. Allow to soften over medium heat, making sure not to brown the vegetables. Add just enough of the broth to moisten the vegetables. Then add ¾ of the heavy cream (330g) and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. When ready, sift through a tamis by pressing the mixture through. Allow to cool before adding the rest of the double cream. If needed add more salt and pepper. Store in the fridge.

4. Chop the celery root into 3mm cubes.
Plunge in boiling salted water, and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and cool.

5. Toss the crayfish tails and claws in the truffle vinaigrette. Sprinkle the tails with ¾ of the chopped truffles. Keep cold. Season the celery root cubes with the truffle vinaigrette.

6. Glaze the center of the serving plates with the ice cream. Place the crayfish tails in the shape of a flower at the center, and the claws around it. Sprinkle with the celery cubes, chopped chives, chervil, and the remaining truffle.

ENJOY!

Adam Rogers

Marketing & Social Media Executive

Alken Brothers Wine Merchants

Mobile: +353 86 0886807

Email: arogers@alkenbrothers.ie